Kilcoin marathons in all 50 states

Valerie Kilcoin celebrated her entrance into the exclusive 50-state marathon club on Sunday by hiking six miles near Yellowstone the next day.

KEVIN GLEASON

Valerie Kilcoin celebrated her entrance into the exclusive 50-state marathon club on Sunday by hiking six miles near Yellowstone the next day.

Kilcoin liked it so much, she and her husband, Bill, did another six-mile hike on Tuesday — in addition to a one-mile swim.

It was a most appropriate celebration for a most remarkable runner. Kilcoin, a 54-year-old Middletown resident, crossed the finish line at the Missoula Marathon in Montana in 3 hours, 48 minutes, 47.9 seconds on Sunday. It made her, according to club data, the 704th runner — and 229th female — in the country to complete 26.2-milers in all 50 states.

Running in 90-degree heat and her hot pink T-shirt marking her accomplishment, a gift from fellow runner Joanne Shurter of Winners' Bracket Award & Trophy Center in Middletown, Kilcoin tried to keep her emotions in check amid repeated congratulations from folks along the course. She finally got emotional crossing the line. "I was not as bad as I thought,'' she said. "I was a happy camper at the finish line.''

Race officials gave her bib No. 50 and announced her achievement at the finish line as photographers snapped off shots of Kilcoin. "I was so thrilled,'' she said.

Kilcoin ran her first marathon in 1988 in New Jersey, and Sunday's race marked her 75th marathon overall. Kilcoin rounded out the 50-state feat by running 25 marathons the past three years, including eight already this year.

And she's no plodder. Kilcoin generally finishes in 3½-4 hours and places in her age group. She has won her division on many occasions and was fifth in the 50-54 age group on Sunday.

"You go through peaks and valleys when you are running,'' she said. " 'Do I really want to complete this?' And then you cross the finish line and recover and say, 'Sure I do.' "

Of course, retirement savings appear headed for another delay. Not to miss out on the fun, Bill has run half-marathons in 41 states, and you bet he plans to do all 50. Talk about a perfect pair. The Kilcoins are parents to 23- and 27-year-old daughters.

"He's been my rock from the beginning,'' Val said. "He knows I never would have been able to do it without him.''

So, really, what is next for 50-state finisher No. 704?

Kilcoin is unsure, though she believes she has another 25 marathons in her to reach the 100 mark. And she figures to especially enjoy helping Bill reach his 13.1-mile milestone. "I can actually be a pace person,'' she said. "The underlying fact is, I'm not going to stop running.''